7of8Houston interior designer Sandy Lucas collects iron building banks from the late 1800s and they're displayed in her home on a series of small shelves.Photo: Stephen Karlish

8of8Houston interior designer Sandy Lucas framed a collection of coins in a series of frames, some with a single coin and some with small groups They were originally framed on blue velvet but she opted for a dark linen background with light linen mats and simple silver frames. the forms -- not the individual collection -- became the focal point.Photo: Stephen Karlish

There is no end to the list of things that people collect, from museum-quality art to antique duck decoys, tin egg beaters or even Majolica oyster plates.

Houston interior designers Sandy Lucas and Sarah Eilers of Lucas Eilers Design Associates have handled requests of all kinds — including the time a client handed Eilers a paper sack full of rolling pins and asked if she could “do something with this.” (She did.)

“We think the items you choose for your home are the items that give your home character. They’re the items that make you smile. They express your passion and your personality, and they’re what makes your home unique,” said Lucas, who has been friends with Eilers since the two met as students at the University of Texas in Austin. “Collections are all about things that speak to you, and things you find yourself wanting more of.”

Lucas and Eilers spoke at a recent Access Design event sponsored by the Houston Chronicle and the Houston Design Center on the topic “A Passion for Collecting.” Not only are they avid collectors, they’re experts at displaying theirs and others’ collections.

“Ever since I can remember, I’ve been exposed to beautiful things,” Eilers said. “My parents collected English and American antiques. They took me to antiques shows and shops, especially the Theta Charity Antiques Show and Round Top antique show — I went to it when it was just Winedale and the old Rifle Hall.”

If you’re looking for new ways to display collections, there aren’t a lot of rules because you can make collections look great in a number of ways. Here’s their advice:

It should be “you”: Lucas and Eilers agree that whatever you collect should be things you’re drawn to, or things that represent your interests and your life. That’s what will make your collection unique and how it will represent your personality in your home.

Background: Sometimes color matters and sometimes it doesn’t. One of Lucas’ clients collected blue and white porcelain and she recommended displaying it on shelves that had been painted apple green — the dishes popped in front of that color. A different client had a collection of antique white ironstone. In that case, she opted to display it in built-in corner cabinets painted a similar shade of white in a dining room with a mural of hand-painted de Gournay wallpaper all the way around the room. Both looked spectacular, so you have to do what suits the piece and the entire room, they said.

About cabinets: Eilers adapted a dark mahogany bookcase by upholstering the back of it and adding lighting. Now that piece is a great spot for displaying some of her china.

Groupings: Lucas’ husband inherited a coin collection, and rather than frame it all together, she opted to break it up with shadow boxes containing single or small groups of coins. What set it off was the consistency of the framing, with the coins on dark linen backgrounds with a light linen matte and silver frames. In this case, the composition mattered. The same thing goes for series of prints or pieces of art.

Mix it up: Sometimes, what makes a collection’s display great is the way it is mixed with other things. In one home, a room with dark blue shelves held a mixture of antique duck decoys, antique building banks and books.

More than junk: Eilers really did get a paper sack full of rolling pins and egg beaters and made a beautiful framed arrangement out of them, once she sourced some additional pieces to round out the collections. They may sound like silly things to collect, but most were from the client’s grandparents, so they had great sentimental value.

You’re never done: Lucas noted that even when you think you’ve collected all you want of an item, there’s always room to improve on your collection. Many dealers will let you trade in items you have purchased from them for more valuable pieces. It’s a way to use early purchases, that may have been less expensive, to upgrade your overall collection. (Rug dealers often do this, too.)

The internet: Websites are both a blessing and a curse. If you collect for the thrill of the hunt, websites such as firstdibs.com, chairish.com or even ebay.com may make shopping too easy for you. On the other hand, the whole world has become your hunting ground. Just be careful that what you’re buying is authentic.

Get started: Both women agreed that buying original art is a great way to get started collecting. You can start with less expensive pieces and then increase the value as you learn more about it. Make sure you buy directly from artists or through a reputable art dealer or gallerist to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth.

Diane Cowen has worked at the Houston Chronicle since 2000 and currently its architecture and home design writer. Prior to working for the Chronicle, she worked at the South Bend (Ind.) Tribune and at the Shelbyville (Ind.) News. She is a graduate of Purdue University and is the author of a cookbook, "Sunday Dinners: Food, Family and Faith from our Favorite Pastors."